Electrical door signal



y 1966 H. EICKHOFF m ELECTRICAL DOOR SIGNAL Filed Jan. 6, 1965ZtIIIIZIIIf" FIE-.1-

1 I EI 2 INVENTOR. HENRY EICKHOFF HI BY ,4 4)? ATTOKNE V5 United StatesPatent 3,259,707 ELECTRICAL DOOR SIGNAL Henry Eickhoff III, 1165Barcelona Drive, Pacifica, Calif. Filed Jan. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 423,688 1Claim. (Cl. 20061.67)

This invention relates to a lock system and more particularly relates toa system whereby one can tell at a remote point when a door is opened.

In many instances, it is desirable from a security standpoint to providemeans whereby one can tell when the bolt of a lock is thrown at a remotepoint. In accordance with the present invention, a simple modificationis made of an existing lock so that an indication is given at a remotepoint when the bolt of the lock is turned. In accordance with oneembodiment of the invention, a second circuit is provided within thelock structure so that one can tell at a remote point whether or not thedoor is locked.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a lock embodying thepresent invention and also showing suitable associated circuitry.

FIGURE 2 is a partial view, similar to FIGURE 1, showing the bolt of thelock in a retracted position.

Turning now to a description of the drawings by reference characters,there is shown a lock having a frame generally designated 3, having anoutside knob 5 and an inside knob 6. The outside knob is operativelyconnected to an eccentric member 7, while the inside knob is operativelyconnected to an eccentric member 9, each of said eccentric membersbearing against a bolt actuating member 11, which is connected to bolt13. The bolt actuator 11, and thus bolt 13, is biased outwardly by aspring 15. The structure thus far described is conventional, and inaccordance with the present invention, the lock structure is modified byproviding a small contact 17 on the bolt actuating mechanism 11 and alsoby providing a second contact 19 which is mounted on the frame of thelock and insulated therefrom by means of an insulator 21. A first wire23 leading to a source of electricity, not shown, is attached to theframe 3 at a suitable point such as 25. A second wire 27 leading to thesource of electricity is connected to a bell 29 and then to the contact19 by means of wire 31. Thus, when the bolt is retracted, as is shown inFIGURE 2, contacts 17 and 19 are brought together, closing the circuit,causing the bell to sound.

As was mentioned above, the circuit of the present invention can also beprovided with means whereby one can tell at a remote point whether ornot the lock is locked.

Thus, in a conventional lock, the locking bar 35 has a key member 37 atone end and a small knob 39 at the other. When the bar 35 is to theright, as is shown in solid lines, the locking member 37 preventsrotation of the eccentric member 7, so that one cannot open the door byturning the outside knob. However, if the bar is moved to the left as isshown in dot-dash lines, either by turning the knob 6 or the knob 39,the key member 37 is brought out of engagement, so that the knob 5 canbe used to open the door. In the modification shown, a contact 41 is'held to the frame 3 but insulated therefrom by insulator 43, so that awire 45 can be attached to the contact 41. This wire leads to a lightbulb 47 and thence to wire 27. Thus when the parts are in the positionshown in the solid lines in FIGURE 1, i.e., the door is locked, there isno indication from the bulb 47, but should the bar 35 be moved to theleft, i.e., the door is unlocked, the key member 37 will contact thecontactor 41, closing the circuit and lighting the bulb 47. Of course,the contact can be rearranged for a reverse operation as is more fullyset forth in my copending patent application, Serial No. 413,491, filedNovember 24, 1964.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations canbe made in the present invention without departing from the spiritthereof. For instance, an audible warning has been shown for the boltactuation indicator, and a visual indicator for the locking mechanism.However, both of these could be visual or both audible and the like.

It is believed apparent from the foregoing that I have provided asimple, yet effective, means of showing whether or not the bolt of adoor is actuated, which may be combined with a device for showingwhether or not the door is locked.

I claim:

In a lock structure having a bolt which is extended from a frame whenthe door is latched and which is retracted to unlatch the door, theimprovement comprising two stationary contact points on said frame, amoveable locking bar within said frame having a locking member thereonwhereby movement of a key in said lock structure brings said lockingmember in contact with a stationary contact point to close an electricalcircuit, a bolt member at right angle to said moveable locking bar andresponsive thereto, and a bolt actuating mechanism connected to saidbolt member and having a moveable contact thereon whereby retraction ofsaid bolt member brings said moveable contact in contact with astationary contact point to close an electrical circuit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,047,105 12/1912Nagy 20061 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

J. I. BAKER, Assistant Examiner.

